From Berkeley to the Bronx, teenage addiction has reached epidemic levels. Parents may suspect their teen’s substance use, but often don’t know if their teen is addicted or what to do about it. Dr. Laurence Westreich, an addiction expert and the father of two teenagers, helps parents navigate the fraught addiction landscape in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction. Divided into three sections, this book—based on the author’s decades of experience evaluating and treating teenagers who use substances—guides parents from the moment they suspect their teen has a substance abuse problem to the steps families must take after intensive treatment. Dr. Westreich: • Lays out the facts of teen addiction and explains how to recognize a problem with a teen • Details what parents need to know about the substances that teenagers commonly use • Provides information on what to do about the substance abuse, including how to find good one-on-one addiction therapy, how to encourage a teen to enter an outpatient program or inpatient facility, and how to line up aftercare treatment Best of all, he includes “tough talk” dialogues that parents can tailor to their specific situation with their teen. This practical, hopeful, and reassuring book helps parents put their teen on the healthy and life-affirming road to recovery.

A Parents Guide to Substance Abuse and Addiction: provides a necessary education on what the main substances of abuse are, how they are used, how addiction occurs, and the resulting physical, psychological, and legal consequences. This concise and factual guide is a useful reference for both parents and their teens. Its main purpose is to educate and open a pathway of communication, trust, and respect between parents and their teens about drug and alcohol abuse and how and why addiction occurs. It arms teens with vital knowledge about the pitfalls and possible dangers of substance abuse so that they can make educated choices throughout their teenage years and beyond.

Defies the myth that parents must sacrific themselves. Instead, shows them how to reclaim their power, balance, happiness...and lives. When kids turn to substance abuse, parents also become victims as they watch their children transform into irrational and antisocial individuals. This harrowing scenario finds parents buckling beneath the stress--often with catastrophoric consequences: Divorce, career upsets, breakdowns and worse. "Don't Let Your Kids Kill You" is a landmark work that dares focus on the plight of the confused, distressed parent and not the erring child. It sets aside any preconceived ideas that parents are to blame for what is essentially a full-blown global crisis. Drawing on interviews with parents who've survived the heartbreak of kids on drugs, combined with his own experience, Charles Rubin provides practical advice on how parents can help themselves and their families by first attending to their own needs. Liberation begins when you open this book.

"Parenting is hard. If you are reading this, you are likely a very concerned parent who is looking for guidance about how to help your child who is using substances (or engaging in other risky behaviors). You may have mild concerns about your child's focus at school, choice of friends, new "minimalist" communication style with you, or you may be facing sudden and terrifying changes. Whatever your particular mix of worries as a parent, your child's drug use (including alcohol) tends to make it that much more nerve-racking--sometimes explosive." From introduction, page 1.

"Children of Substance-Abusing Parents: Dynamics and Treatment" is a necessary reference for all mental health professionals and students who need to understand and treat this population. It offers an invaluable look attreatment options and programmatic interventions across the life span and fills an important gap in the current literature. The contributors include a wide range of experts who provide up-to-date evidence-based clinical and programmatic strategies for working with children of alcohol and other substance-abusing parents of any age and in almost any practice setting. This highly recommended book is a valuable resource for all practitioners and students concerned about this very large, but often hidden group of individuals and families." From the Foreword by Sis Wenger President/CEO National Association for Children of Alcoholics Parental drug abuse and alcoholism have an enormously detrimental impact on children and adolescents. Children whose parents suffer from drug abuse or alcoholism often face multiple physical, mental, and behavioral issues. They are at a greater risk for depression, anxiety, low self esteem, and addiction, and also are known to have poor school attendance, difficulty concentrating, and lower IQ scores. This book offers health care practitioners proactive programs and innovative strategies to use with this vulnerable population. Taking a comprehensive, life course approach, the authors discuss the implications and interventions at the prenatal stage, through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. With this book, social workers and health care practitioners can help assess and intervene with children of substance abusing parents. Key topics: Dynamics in families with substance abusing parents and treatment implications Issues across the life span of children of substance abusing parents Prevention and early intervention programs for pregnant women who abuse substances Programs for young children, adolescents, college students, and children with incarcerated parents

Sunnys Story brings to light one of the most critical issues facing children, parents and educators today. Parents are challenged with discussing the dangers of alcohol and other drugs with their children. Having the courage to face hard issues is the first step in keeping children safe. Through the voice of the family dog, and in a tender and thoughtful way, Sunnys Story is an effective tool to approach this topic. This story opens a dialogue between parents and their children. It teaches parents about what children are exposed to everyday. Children will obtain a clear understanding of how their choices affect their life and the lives of those close to them.